San Antonio - Trinity rising sophomore women's tennis player Paulina Garcia has been named a national winner of the 2018 Novo Nordisk Donnelly Award.

Novo Nordisk is a company which specializes in global healthcare with a concentration in diabetes. The Donnelly Award is presented to male and female athletes ages 14-21 who have diabetes and play tennis competitively.

Garcia received a $7,500 scholarship July 27 at a World TeamTennis match in Chicago. The presenter was women's tennis icon and World TeamTennis co-founder Billie Jean King.

The 19-year-old Garcia was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 12. Undeterred, Garcia was a standout player for TMI Episcopal in San Antonio. She played #1 singles for the Panthers and reached the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) state championship semifinals in 2014. Garcia was also a district champion for three consecutive years. Garcia had a solid season in the 2017-18 campaign of the Trinity Tigers women's team. She chalked up a 6-3 record in singles, largely at the #6 position. Garcia emerged as the winner in her last five singles matchups, and sported a 2-1 doubles record with Ashley DeBauge.

Led by fourth-year head Coach Gretchen Rush, the Tigers completed the season with a 13-11 record. Trinity won its seventh consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championships.